Melanotaenia trifasciata display deep red fins and a dark black band (which sometimes shimmers with blue hues) that runs horizontally across the fish’s lateral line. Melanotaenia literally means “black“ and “band“. There is also a violet to blue irridescence throughout the rest of the body. The males has darker, more vibrant coloring and are deeper bodied than the females. During mating or flaring behavior, the males will display prominent strips of flourescent blue, purple, or white along the tops of their heads and backs.

The Banded Rainbowfish has a compressed body and with smaller size of head. The dorsal and anal fins are both long-based. This type of popular aquarium fish, various forms of color. Very often, or greenish blue on the back and sides. Breast, stomach and lower sides of the head, usually silvery or white. Median fins are yellow or red. Dark-Banda (sometimes weak), usually along one side of the body. The wild band rainbow fish grows to 5 inches in length, but the most often seen up to 3 inches This kind of fish is endemic to Australia. The most common environment is in freshwater rivers and water resources in the Northern Territory and the Northern Cape York, Queensland.

A concern for many is that interbreeding can happen when different varieties of rainbowfish are kept. Males exhibit very vibrant colors during mating and also when dominating towards other males. Females are slightly dull but still a great colors. Rainbow fish front halves can range from a light green to a dark blueish color, while their posterior halves can range from a light yellow to a deep orange or red. Plenty of open swimming room is required, as well as places that provide cover. Rainbow fish place in planted tanks will provides a wonderful contrast to the greenery in one.Due to this species ability to mate with other rainbowfish, care must be taken to preserve the blood purity of this species. If several rainbowfish species are to be kept together, the aquarist should be certain that the resultant offspring are not sold or given back to the pet store or other hobbyists. The gene pool of this beautiful fish could be threatened otherwise.